Agency Related Survey Action Request

On behalf of the leadership of  National Coalition for Food and Agriculture Research (NCFAR), the insight of the ECOP as a member and/or sponsor is requested. ECOP Monday Minute readers are asked to share how their institutions value USDA programs in the research, extension and education (REE) mission area. Toward that end, please take a moment to complete a short survey at https://aavmc.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4TqsGbJPVlwo6qx. For more information, go to www.ncfar.org. 

Rural Broadband and Digital Tools in Ag Conference Opportunity - APLU’s Office of Economic Development & Community Engagement is currently soliciting Expressions of Interest from researchers and Extension professionals working at the intersection of community broadband access and the application of digital tools in agriculture to participate in an online conference. Extension Directors and Administrators and their associates are invited to complete this online form to express your interest. The deadline is 11:59 p.m. ET on September 30.

4-H Congressional Staff Briefing - In 2019, ECOP approved the formation of a subcommittee of the ECOP Budget and Legislative Committee (BLC) to increase government funding for Extension/4-H from sources other than USDA. On September 8, 2020, the ECOP BLC Subcommittee for 4-H partnered with the 4-H Congressional Caucus to host a virtual 4-H Congressional Staff Briefing to raise awareness of the diversity and relevance of today’s Cooperative Extension’s 4-H program and to thank Congress for their support of 4-H funding through 1890 Extension and Smith-Lever, the 4-H Mentoring (OJJDP) funding, and other opportunities. Speakers included ECOP Budget & Legilsative Committee Chair, Jon Boren (New Mexico State University), Jennifer Sirangelo (National 4-H Council), Clyde Van Dyke (4-H Member from NY) and Congressman Mike Conaway (TX).

eXtension Foundation Meeting Invitation - The eXtension Foundation invites all Extension Directors and Administrators to attend the eXtension Foundation Meeting on September 24th from 2:15 PM - 3:45 PM ET, as part of NEDA. During this meeting, eXtension and ECOP will be facilitating a discussion on the results of the National Action Dialogue for Extension Futures including infrastructure needs, training needs, and other emerging themes. The eXtension Climate Fellows will also provide a report to the CES section on their work followed by a short presentation on how the eXtension Foundation has been serving the system through its New Technologies for Ag Extension Accelerator Program and its Impact Collaborative program. NEDA registration and details are available at neda.extension.org.  

NIFA 1890 Centers of Excellence Program Opportunity - Nineteen Land-grant Universities associated with the Cooperative Extension System  are eligible to apply for NIFA Centers of Excellence Program. Originally established in 2015 in conjunction with the 125th Anniversary of the Second Morrill Act of 1890, he 1890 COEs goals are: 1) increasing profitability and rural prosperity in underserved farming communities; 2) addressing critical needs for enhanced international training and development; and 3) increasing diversity in the science, technology, engineering, agriculture and mathematics (STEAM) pipeline. Read RFA/Apply here. Last year's recipients are found here.

Military Family Readiness Academy: Disaster & Hazard Readiness 101 - The Military Family Readiness Academy opens its 2020 series on September 16 with a session entitled Disaster and Hazard Readiness 101 from 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET.  The session will provide a bird’s-eye view of disasters and hazards. Dr. Angie Lindsey, University of Florida/IFAS, begins with a high-level overview addressing terminology, phases of management, and types of disasters and hazards. Dr. Lindsey will also provide insights into significant research guiding disaster and hazard readiness and response, as well as the role and impact of media, and emergent conversations around the COVID-19 pandemic. The 90-minute session is free and several continuing education credits are also available. For more information and to register go to:   https://militaryfamilieslearningnetwork.org/event/mfra2020 

Farm Bill Producer Education Evaluation Shows National Impact

Directors/Administrators involved with the Cooperative Extension partnership with USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) on the recent farm bill producer education project are encouraged to provide survey results as found at http://bit.ly/2014FSA-CES-Ed to state and local FSA colleagues. The infographic summarizes survey responses from participants engaged in educational programs on new farm/ranch programs during the 10-month period beginning September 1, 2014. Respondents reported nearly doubling their knowledge of new farm/ranch programs after engaging in the face-to-face educational programs. The total estimated revenue protected by survey respondents is reported to be in the billions of dollars. The full reach of the Cooperative Extension educational effort is estimated to be up to five times greater than the numbers reported in the attachment. In addition, since some farm/ranch managers engaged in educational programs were making decisions for five or more agricultural operations, the reach expands even more. The 2nd page of the summary encourages further work with Cooperative Extension as a national system. Key ECOP leadership for this project with funding authorized by the Agriculture Act of 2014 (farm bill) included Jimmy Henning (University of Kentucky), Chris Boerboom (North Dakota State University), James Trapp (Oklahoma State University), and Ron Brown (Association of Southern Region Extension Directors). Craig Wood, eXtension, together with the ECOP National Office, were instrumental in summarizing the data and developing the handout. 

Twitter Town Hall at NEDA 2015 – Fast-paced and highly engaging are two descriptors of the 30-minute Twitter Town Hall scheduled Wednesday morning at the National Extension Directors and Administrators (NEDA) Meeting October 12-14, 2015 in St. Louis. Darren Katz of kglobal, the firm working with the AHS-ESS-CES Communication and Marketing Committee chaired by Scott Reed (Oregon State University) will lead the effort. Be at NEDA to get a firsthand view of how this social media approach can engage target audiences. Better yet, use your Twitter account to join the process. Highlighted in the Twitter Town Hall will be four of the 151 innovations reported to Ohio State University as part of the ECOP-sponsored Cooperative Extension Innovation Inventory to be unveiled at NEDA 2015. NEDA registration is available at a reduced fee until 9.22.15 at www.cvent.com/d/wrq424. 

Nick Place, University of Florida

ECOP Names Representatives for EDEN Strategic Planning – ECOP liaison to the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) Nick Place (University of Florida) announces a strategic planning meeting September 8-10, 2015 in Indianapolis. The purpose is to learn from EDEN’s 20-year history and, more importantly, recommend action for the next five years. Extension Directors/Administrator named by ECOP to participate are Carolyn Williams, 1890 Universities (Prairie View A&M University); Chris Boerboom, North Central (North Dakota State University); Fred Schlutt, Western (University of Alaska); Larry Katz, Northeast (Rutgers University), and Ed Jones, Southern (Virginia Tech). EDEN leadership, a USDA-NIFA liaison, and ECOP Executive Director Jane Schuchardt also will attend. Among goals of the workshop are to assess resources, evaluate Extension’s need and priorities for EDEN, and consider national and international partnerships. 

4-H Congressional Caucus Takes Hold on Capitol Hill – The National 4-H Council reports several members of Congress have asked to join the 4-H Congressional Caucus since its launch in July 2015. See http://www.4-h.org/congress/ to find information about 4-H Congressional Alumni, 4-H Congressional Caucus members, news about 4-H activities on the Hill, and resources to use when visiting Members of Congress. ECOP endorsed the recommendation from the 4-H National Leadership Committee, Ed Jones (Virginia Tech) and Renee McKee (Purdue University), co-chairs, to re-establish this caucus, which is supported by Cooperative Extension and facilitated by National 4-H Council. Direct questions to Kelly Baird at kbaird@fourhcouncil.edu. 

ECOP Monday Minute to Return 9.14.15 – This blog is designed as a quick read most Monday mornings primarily targeted for Cooperative Extension Directors/Administrators. It’s primary purpose is to show how ECOP provides national leadership for the benefit of state and local educational programming and to engage the Cooperative Extension Section in actions of system-wide benefit. Comments of any nature, and especially on how to improve this communication, can be directed to ECOP Executive Director Jane Schuchardt at jane.schuchardt@extension.org. Enjoy these last few days of summer and have a safe and memorable Labor Day weekend.